Trunk for collapsible artificial tree

ABSTRACT

A trunk for a collapsible artificial tree comprising a plurality of pairs of apertures in each of several horizontal planes wherein each pair of apertures is adapted to pivotally support an artificial branch unit. Each pair of apertures of said trunk being spaced apart from each other by the same distance as apertures of other pairs are from each other, but being spaced circumferentially around said trunk from other of said pairs of apertures whereby any branch supported at said several horizontal planes will not be in vertical alignment.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,713,957 Hermanson 1 1 Jan. 30, 1973 54 TRUNK FOR COLLAPSIBLE 2,893,149 7 1959 Reece etal ..l6l/24 ARTIFICIAL TREE 3,163,573 12/1964 Brooks ..l6l/24 [75] Inventor: Terry Hermanson, New York, NY.

[73] Assignee: Mr. Christmas Incorporated Primary Examiner-Philip Dler Att0rneyKarl W. Flocks [22] Filed: June 3,1971

211 Appl. No.: 149,775 1571 ABSTRACT Related s Application Data A trunk for a collaps1ble artlficlal tree comprising a 7 plurality of pairs of apertures in each of several [60] Division of Ser. No. 87,402, Nov. 6, 1970, Pat. No, horizontal planes wherein each pair of apertures is 3,639,196, and a C0minuali0n-in-part of Sen N0. adapted to pivotally support an artificial branch unit. 300,213,1reb- 1969, N03,574,102- Each pair of apertures of said trunk being spaced apart from each other by the same distance as aper- [52] U. S.Cl. ..l61/14, 161/24,161/109 -e5 of other pairs are from each other, but being [5-1] Int. Cl. ..A47g 33/06 spaced cireumferentially around said trunk from other 1 1 Field Search 109 of said pairs of apertures whereby any branch sup- V ported at said several horizontal planes will not be in [56] References Cited vertical alignment.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Claim, 14 Drawing Figures 2,889,650 6/1959 Hankus 1.l61/24 PATENTED JAN 3 0 I873 sum 10? 2 FIG. 12

FIG. 11

FIG. 14

FIG. 1.3

PATENTED JAN 30 I875 SHEET 2 [IF 2 AMU L TRUNK FOR COLLAPSIBLE ARTIFICIAL TREE This is a division of my copending application, Ser. No. 87,402, filed Nov. 6,1970, which is now US. Pat. No. 3,639,196 and a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 800,218, filed Feb. 18, 1969, now Pat. No. 3,574,102.

Artificial trees, partially those used for Christmas decoration have become increasingly popular generally because of reduced fire hazards through the use of noncombustible materials, durability, ready storage and continued reuse over a number of years.

Primary objects of the present invention are to provide an artificial tree which can be readily collapsed and stored and in which the simulated foldable limbs of the tree substantially unfold" with a minimum of effort and without physically distorting tree-forming elements;

to provide a novel artificial tree which includes foldable limbs mounted on a simulated trunk which affords a natural appearance;

to provide a novel artificial tree which is automatically folded when inserted into a tubular storage container and is automatically unfolded when removed from the container;

to provide a perfectly shaped artificial tree which may be compactly stored in a carton of minimum size;

to provide a more attractive artificial tree with means for economically mounting a relatively large number of limbs or branches; and

to provide a novel artificial tree having a trunk capable of selectively supporting limbs or branches in different circumferential positions therearound.

These together with other and more specific objects I and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawing forming a part thereof, in

which;

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of an artificial tree showing the limbs unfolded;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the tree of FIG. 1 showing the limbs in a folded or collapsed condition; I

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an adapter for mounting the limbsor branches on the artificial tree;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view'showing the adapter of FIG. 3 secured to terminal portions of an artificial tree limb or branch unit;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the tree trunk of FIG. 1, with portions broken away to show detail;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the preliminary sheet metal form with the pattern of aper tures punched therein, but before being rolled into tubular form;

FIG. 11 is a view of the trunk taken on the plane of line 11-llofFIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a view of the trunk taken on the plane of line 12-12 ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a view of the trunk taken on the plane of line ll3---of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 14 is a view of the trunk taken on the plane of line I4--of FIG. 9.

referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fragmentary portion of an artificial tree, generally of the type used for Christmas decoration is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a vertical or central support staff or trunk 12 and a plurality of longitudinally and circumferentially spaced artificial limbs or branches indicated generally at 14. The lower end of the trunk 12 will be maintained vertical in a suitable base or support stand, now shown. Additionally, both the trunk 12 and branches 14 will be produced from any suitable material preferably non-inflammable. Additionally, the trunk 12 may taper from its lower toward its upper end to more closely simulate an artificial tree. The branches 14 are mounted on the trunk 12 in units 15 of at least a pair of branches 14. The limb or branch units 15 are pivotally connected at their inner ends to the trunk 12 in a manner to subsequently be described in detail, and will normally gravitate to the condition shown in FIG. 1 from that indicated at 10' in FIG. 2. The branches or limbs 14 are readily folded to the condition shown in FIG. 2 by inserting the artificial tree in a suitably dimensioned elongated rectangular carton or cylindrical tube.'Alternatively, the tree may be turned upside down allowing gravity to automatically fold the branches or limbs 14 against the trunk 12 before slipping an enclosure thereover for storage. The branch units 15 remain pivotally connected to the trunk 12 in storage, but may be readily replaced in case of damage.

Referring to FIG. 4, the branch unit 15 comprises a pair of branches 14 which are made from longitudinally twisted, fairly stiff wire elements 16 and 18 which form a plurality of longitudinally spaced loops 20 through which are transversely disposed foliage-forming filaments of plastic filaments 22 which afford simulated pine needles or the like. The branches or limbs 14 will he graduated in length to provide various elevational profiles to the artificial tree. The twisted wires 16 and 18 form a shank portion 17 at their inner ends to which is secured an adapter 19 by clips 21.

The similated trunk 12 may be constructed of any suitable material, metal, plastic, etc., and preferably comprises an elongated tubular member, as shown in FIGS. 5-8, although it may be in the form of a solid rod. The trunk 12 has distributed in vertically spaced relation and in offset relationship from the longitudinal center line of the trunk pairs of diametrically opposed bearing apertures 11 which comprise trunnion bearings defining a pivot axis PA between each respective pair of apertures 11. Each pivot axis PA is generally in chordal relationship with the center line of trunk 12. The pattern of apertures in trunk 12 has been carefully worked out so that it can be used for different size trees or the same size trees, but having different numbers of branch units thereon. The pattern shown is designed to repeat itself approximately every 2 inches.

Prior to assembly, the adapter 19 resembles a wire form of a bottle opener with the loop open at the wide end as shown in FIG. 3. In this form the adapter 19 comprises a pair of generally parallel legs 23, 25 with a bulb portion 27 extending from one end thereof. A pair of generally outwardly directed arms 29,31 extend from the end of the legs 23, 25 and terminate in a reverse bend to form coaxial trunnion shafts 33, 35, respectively. The arms 29, 31 are spring-like and can be displaced or sprung apart to allow the trunnion shafts 33, 35 to be inserted into or removed from aligned apertures 11 in the trunk 12 as seen in FIGS. 6 and 8.

The legs 23, 25 of adapter 19, as previously noted, are secured to shank portion 17 of the artificial limbs or branches 14 by clips 21. The clips 21, as clearly shown in FIG. 8, include a generally rectangular portion 37 with a slotted opening 39 facing in one direction and a finger portion 41 pointed in the opposite direction. In use, the clip 21 has the finger portion 41 bent around and into the slotted opening 39. Although the adapter 19 is illustrated and described as being secured to shank portion 17 of the artificial limbs or branches 14 by clips 21, it is clear that only a single clip may do the job. Also, adapter 19 may be secured to the branches 14 by welding, soldering, or other securing means instead of by use of the clips 21.

An important feature of branch unit is that it is made with the continuous twisted wires 16, 18 bent in the form of the letter U or V to form shank portion 17 with two branches 14. Each branch unit 15 thus provides two branches 14 at a single hinge adapter support fixture. While this may appear to be simple, the savings afforded thereby is significant, as the number of clips and the labor required in this assembly operation is reduced by approximately 50 percent. Of equal importance is the additional saving due to the reduction in number of wire form adapters 19 required per branch 14. Additionally, the use of the V type twin branch unit 15 avoids the problem of branch rotation which is prevalent in the single stem type branches. In the single stem type branch arrangements, the branches are frequently turned or twisted and even pulled away from the adapter member. This situation is eliminated by using the V type twin branch unit 15 which, because of its added lateral cross section, provides a high resistance to rotation thereof.

In assembly the shank portion 17 of the branch unit 15 is secured to the adapter 19 by clips 21 as shown in FIG. 4. The branch unit 15 is thus supported by the legs 23, 25 and the bulb portion 27 of the adapter 19, which pass through the clips 21 and under the shank portion 17. The branch unit 15 and the adapter 19 are secured together, as described, to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

Turning to FIGS. 6-8 it is seen that the trunnion portions 33, 35 are pivotally received in aligned apertures 11 in the trunk 12. The adapter 19, as best shown in FIG. 7, is formed with an intermediate angular bend forming an obtuse angle of approximately 135 between the legs 23, 25 and the arms 29,31. This angular construction allows the branch unit 15 to be pivoted upwardly about its trunnion shafts 33, 35 to the phantom line position, shown in FIG. 7, where it will be substantially parallel to the trunk 12 for storage purposes. In order that branch units 15 may at different elevations extend from the trunk and point at different angles, the angular bend of adapter legs 23, 25 may be bent at angles other than 135. This variation in adapter form provides for a closer simulation of a real tree wherein branches at different heights point in different directions. For example, branches near the top ofa tree generally would point more in an upward direction and the lower branches would have a greater tendency to point in a lateral direction. A further embodiment of the adapter 19 may assume longer proportions than illustrated, to which a greater number of V type twin branches may be attached.

As illustrated by phantom lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, a tubular container C having a rectangular, polygonal, or circular cross section will removably receive the artificial tree when folded in the condition shown in FIG. 2. When the artificial tree as shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into the container or tube C, the limbs 14 automatically fold upwardly toward the position shown in FIG. 2, and when the tree is entirely contained within the tube, the tree is folded and stored.

Of course, when the tree is removed, upper end first, from the container, as the limbs are being withdrawn from the embrace of the tube, the uppermost limbs will automatically gravitate radially outwardly to an unfolded condition, i.e., as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 9-14 wherein the pattern of apertures for pivotally receiving the trunnion shafts 33, 35 of hinge adapter 19 is shown in greater detail, it is noted this pattern has been carefully worked out so that the trunk 12 may be used for different size trees or for trees of the same size but having a different styling or number of limb or branch units 15 thereon. It is noted in FIGS. 10 and 11 that the apertures 11a and 11a in a first horizontal plane or level are spaced apart from each other a distance equal to that which apertures 11b and 1 lb are spaced apart from each other. The spacing of these apertures as described provides for the cooperation of apertures of like subscript in a given plane or level to pivotally receive and support the trunnion shafts 33, 35 of hinge adapter 19. Thus apertures 11a and 11a are spaced to pivotally receive the trunnion shafts 33, 35 of adapter 19. similarly, apertures 11b and 11b are spaced to pivotally receive the trunnion shafts 33, 35 ofa second adapter 19.

moving down the trunk 12 from the plane or level of apertures 11a, 11a and 11b, 11b, it is seen that four pairs of apertures 12a, 12a; 12b, 12b; 12C, and 12d, 12d are provided at the next level with apertures of similar subscripts being spaced apart a distance equal to that of apertures of similar subscripts immediately thereabove and for similarly cooperating with adapters 19. It is noted in FIG. 10 that none of the apertures designated 12 are in vertical alignment with any aperture designated 11. It is clear that as between these two levels of the trunk 12 the adapters 19 will be circumferentially staggered therearound.

Moving down the trunk 12 from the level of apertures 12a, 12a; 12b, 12b; 12c, 12c and 12d, 12d, it is seen that an additional four pairs of apertures 13a, 13a; 13b, 13b; 13c, 13c and 13d, 13d are provided with apertures of similar subscript being apart a distance equal to that of apertures of similar subscripts immediately thereabove and for similar cooperation with hinge adapters 19. It is noted in FIG. 10 that none of the apertures designated 13 are in vertical alignment with any aperture designated 12 in the level immediatelevels of trunk 12, adapters 19 willbe circumferentially staggered therearound.

Moving down the trunk 12 from the level of apertures designated 13 to the level of apertures designated 14, it is seen that two pairs of apertures 14a,14a' and 14b, 14b are provided with apertures of similar subscripts being spaced apart a distance equal to that of aperturesof similar subscripts immediately thereabove and for similar cooperation with hinge adapters 19. It is noted in FIG. that none of the apertures designated are provided with apertures of similar subscripts being spaced apart a distance equal to that of apertures of similar subscripts immediately thereabove and for similar cooperation with hinge adapters 19. It is noted in FIG. 10 that none of these apertures designated 11 are in vertical alignment with any aperture designated 14 in the level immediately thereabove. It is thus clear heretofore never realized. Further, the trees can be deposited in a storage carton or tube automatically collapsing the tree limbs, and when the tree is pulled from the container C it automatically opens" or unfolds.

However, as is clearly evident, removal of the tree from the tube results in automatic erection or radial gravitation of the branches. In addition, the pivot apertures in the artificial tree trunks 12 eliminate the necessity for complex hardware, particularly in that the tree trunk orstaff can be either hollow or solid.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changp s may be made without departing from the scope of e invention and the lnven I0" 18 not to be considered limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification.

What is claimed is:

1. In an artificial tree, an elongated trunk, said trunk having a pattern of pairs of apertures defining pivot axes transverse to the longitudinal axis of said trunk;

that as between adjacent levels of trunk 12, hinge adapters 19 will be circumferentially staggered therearound. It will further be noted, however, that these apertures 11a, 11a and 11b, 11b are in vertical alignment with the apertures identically designated in the first level.

7 Thus it is noted that the patternrepeats itself. In this way a machine with an array of punching or stamping dies may be used to form the apertures'in a desired pattern and repeat the pattern along the length of a sheet of runk forming metal. The pattern as shown may have any dimensional spacing. For convenience, the pattern shown in FIG. 9 repeats itself every 2 inches of trunk length.

From the foregoing it is seen that an effectively attractive tree may be economically made so that the ultimate user may arrange the branch units according to a number of positions around the tree.

Briefly, in review, theartificial limb or branch units 15 by virtue of the trunnion portions are readily pivotally mounted in pivot apertures as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, and are freely pivoted in an upward direction for collapsing the tree as seen in 'FIG. ,2 and will automati said pattern of pairs of apertures being distributed in vertically spaced horizontal planes in said trunk;

a first one of said horizontal planes containing the center lines of two pairs of circumferentially spaced apertures, each pair of said two pairs of apertures forming a pair of pivotal supports for an artificial branch;

a second one of said horizontal planes containing the center lines of four pairs of circumferentially spaced apertures, each pair of said four pairs of apertures forming a pair of pivotal supports for an artificial branch, the center lines of said four pairs of apertures being circumferentially spaced from the center lines of said two pairs of apertures in said first one of said horizontal planes;

a third one of said horizontal planes containing the center lines of a second four pairs of circumferentially spaced apertures, each pair of said second four pairs of apertures forming a pair of pivotal supports for an artificial branch, the center lines of said second four pairs of apertures being circumferentially spaced from the center lines of said two pairs of apertures and said first four pairs of apertures;

and a fourth one of said horizontal planes containing the center lines of a second two pairs of circumferentially spaced apertures, each pair of said second two pairs of apertures forming a pair of pivotal supports for an artificial branch, the center lines of said second two pairs of apertures being circumferentially spaced from the center lines of said first two pairs of apertures and from the.

center lines of said first and second four pairs of apertures. 

1. In an artificial tree, an elongated trunk, said trunk having a pattern of pairs of apertures defining pivot axes transverse to the longitudinal axis of said trunk; said pattern of pairs of apertures being distributed in vertically spaced horizontal planes in said trunk; a first one of said horizontal planes containing the center lines of two pairs of circumferentially spaced apertures, each pair of said two pairs of apertures forming a pair of pivotal supports for an artificial branch; a second one of said horizontal planes containing the center lines of four pairs of circumferentially spaced apertures, each pair of said four pairs of apertures forming a pair of pivotal supports for an artificial branch, the center lines of said four pairs of apertures being circumferentially spaced from the center lines of said two pairs of apertures in said first one of said horizontal planes; a third one of said horizontal planes containing the center lines of a second four pairs of circumferentially spaced apertures, each pair of said second four pairs of apertures forming a pair of pivotal supports for an artificial branch, the center lines of said second four pairs of apertures being circumferentially spaced from the center lines of said two pairs of apertures and said first four pairs of apertures; and a fourth one of said horizontal planes containing the center lines of a second two pairs of Circumferentially spaced apertures, each pair of said second two pairs of apertures forming a pair of pivotal supports for an artificial branch, the center lines of said second two pairs of apertures being circumferentially spaced from the center lines of said first two pairs of apertures and from the center lines of said first and second four pairs of apertures. 